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Chicken Curry/ Koli saaru

Honey loves Chicken Curry. Something I do not make very often. I find it rather cumbersome to make this curry for him and then something else for me..... I did rather make a vegetarian curry and chicken on the side to go along. Besides, watching food network has prepared me well enough to make such chicken side dishes!! Finally I made Chicken Curry. This is one of the most popular recipes for Chicken Curry in south Karnataka.
Chicken 1 pound (The 'curry-cut' chicken is generally with bones and innards. This is the best choice for a curry. The bones and skin somehow seem to add to the taste of the curry. However Boneless Thighs work fine. Since i cook for Honey and he has cholesterol problem, I use low fat chicken breast and use an additional tablespoon of vegetable oil in the curry.)

We will need,

Cloves 6-7

Star Annise 1

Cinnamon 1/4 inch

Cardamon 3 whole

Mint leaves chopped 3 tablespoons

Coconut fresh 3 tablespoons

Poppy Seeds 1/2 tablespoon

Red Chillies 6 and above

Coriander seeds 1/2 tablespoon

Coriander leaves 3 tablespoons (chopped)

Onion 1 big

Tomatoes 2 medium

Garlic 5 cloves

Ginger 3/4 inch

Oil 1 tablespoon(2 more if using chicken Breasts)

Method

Roughly chop onions and toast it on a hot skillet till translucent and charred at the edges. Also toast the red chillies and Coriander seeds.

Grind the toasted onion, red chillies, coriander seeds, clove, Cinnamon into a fine paste. Set aside. Also grind coconut tomatoes and poppy seeds into a smooth paste. (Toast poppy seeds and crush it in a mortar pestle to get this mixture into a fine paste)

Heat a thick bottomed wide pot. Drop the chicken pieces and salt.Do not stir it. Turn it over after 10 minutes. And cook for 10 minutes.

After the 10 minutes and most of the water from the chicken is evaporated, add the spice mixture. Stir well to coat the chicken. Simmer it for 20 minutes.

Add the coconut mixture and cook for 30-40 minutes till the chicken is cooked through and the oil floats on top.

Adjust salt and finish with coriander leaves on top. Also if not watching the waist line a tablespoon of ghee can be added just before serving.